Food and Nutrition Programs

Affordable Connectivity Program

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Office for Food and Nutrition Programs is pleased to share information about a new benefit for households. As part of the newly passed Infrastructure Law, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) was created to provide eligible households up to $30/month (or $75/month for households living on Tribal lands) toward their internet bills, as well as a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.

To further lower costs, secured commitments were obtained from internet service providers across the country to offer high-speed plans that are fully covered by the ACP. As a result, millions of working families can now get high-speed internet without paying a dime.

All households with a child who was approved to receive free or reduced price school meals under the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, within the last 12 months, including children who attend schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, are eligible for ACP benefits. Households are also independently eligible if (1) their income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level ($55,500 for a family of four); or (2) a member of the household participates in certain other Federal benefit programs—including, among others, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Medicaid, and Federal Public Housing Assistance.

Additionally, please note that this benefit is not considered income for purposes of determining eligibility for free and reduced price school meals.

Families can check their eligibility, sign up, and find fully covered plans at GetInternet.gov (mobile-accessible and available in Spanish) or by calling 877-384-2575.

You can access more information including program flyers and other outreach materials at the following web addresses:

• GetInternet.gov—a one-stop shop to learn about ACP, check eligibility, enroll, and find fully covered internet plans.
• ACP Outreach Toolkit—outreach materials from the Federal Communications Commission, including sample factsheets, flyers, PSAs, text messages, social media posts, and more.
• Outreach partners can request the pre-qualification widget to embed on their own websites by emailing ACProgram@usac.org with the subject line "ACP Widget" for technical support. In the email, please include the web address where you plan to add the widget. The interactive widget includes questions to check eligibility and apply for ACP.
• White House Fact Sheet on the ACP and its benefits.